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About Ascend Airways
Ascend Airways is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider. The business was established to provide locally based aircraft and crew to meet the requirements of UK-based airlines, tour operators, charter brokers, government departments, and NGOs.
We will offer high-quality, tailored lease and charter solutions to our customers.

We intend to add enhanced cabin solutions to our aircraft and offer business class and VIP service offerings in the future. The business is committed to sustainable aviation and aligned with the UK JetZero strategy. As well as serving the UK market, Ascend Airways shall operate its worldwide leverage of the UK’s trade agreements to provide services to customers overseas.

Our values

Safety

We are regulated by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and a member of the Flight Safety Committee. We have a highly experienced team who are committed to proactively managing risks associated with our business and ensuring the safe operation of our aircraft. We are committed to continuous improvement.

Reliability

We want a reputation for reliability. We’re focused on using data and technology, such as Boeing’s real-time Aircraft Health Monitoring to continuously improve reliability.

Trustworthy

We want a reputation for service delivery. We want our customers to know they can trust us to carry their customers with care and to deliver on our commitments. We want all our team to be approachable and knowledgeable to assist when required.

ESG

By operating the latest technology we are reducing emissions by 18% and reducing noise by 50%. We are supporting organisations to develop solutions too. We are proud the UK is leading and will continue to support efforts to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment. We are also informing customers about emissions resulting from their operations. We aim to avoid or minimise unnecessary positioning flights by making information available to inform decisions about where they fly from. You can see our Sustainability policy here.

Leadership

Alastair joined Avia Solutions Group in July 2023 and was tasked with creating a new ACMI and charter airline in the UK as well as supporting the Group’s growth overseas. Alastair spent 9 years at Titan Airways, leading business restructuring…

Alastair Willson

Chief Executive

Alastair joined Avia Solutions Group in July 2023 and was tasked with creating a new ACMI and charter airline in the UK as well as supporting the Group’s growth overseas. Alastair spent 9 years at Titan Airways, leading business restructuring during the pandemic with record results in 2022. Alastair has worked with some of the leading airlines and companies in the world, delivering some of the UK’s most high-profile aviation contracts, such as repatriations following the failure of Thomas Cook and Monarch Airlines, as well as providing a new aircraft on lease to the Prime Minister’s office.

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Mark is an experienced pilot and a highly qualified aviation professional specializing in compliance, safety management systems and airline startups. Mark is a Boeing 737- 800 and MAX Type Rated Instructor and Examiner with base training approval, as well as…

Mark Evers

Flight Operations Director

Mark is an experienced pilot and a highly qualified aviation professional specializing in compliance, safety management systems and airline startups. Mark is a Boeing 737- 800 and MAX Type Rated Instructor and Examiner with base training approval, as well as being a qualified auditor and CRM instructor.

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Paul has 20 years of experience managing Boeing 737 maintenance, including classic and new-generation aircraft. Paul was previously Technical Director at Titan Airways and Sterling Airlines, and Maintenance Manager at Bmibay, as well as managed aircraft delivery and return for…

Paul Woodman

Technical Director

Paul has 20 years of experience managing Boeing 737 maintenance, including classic and new-generation aircraft. Paul was previously Technical Director at Titan Airways and Sterling Airlines, and Maintenance Manager at Bmibay, as well as managed aircraft delivery and return for aircraft leasing companies.

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Augustinas joined Ascend Airways from aircraft maintenance and repair organisation, JETMS. Augustinas has a master’s degree in management and economics and an MBA from Vilnius University. [email protected]

Augustinas Zemaitaitis

Chief Financial Officer

Augustinas joined Ascend Airways from aircraft maintenance and repair organisation, JETMS. Augustinas has a master’s degree in management and economics and an MBA from Vilnius University.

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Pamela is MCIPD qualified – Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Pam joined from CargoLogicAir where she was also Head of HR. Before CargoLogic, Pam was Deputy HR Director at Vogla-Dnepr Group, a UK-based cargo airline, where she spent 11…

Pamela Rablin

Head of HR

Pamela is MCIPD qualified – Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Pam joined from CargoLogicAir where she was also Head of HR. Before CargoLogic, Pam was Deputy HR Director at Vogla-Dnepr Group, a UK-based cargo airline, where she spent 11 years working with Human Resources.

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Glen has more than 20 years of experience in aviation running his own UK Air Operating Certificate and training organization, Synergy Aviation, while also flying as a Captain. Glen has stayed with the business following the acquisition and will fly…

Glen Heaves

Glen has more than 20 years of experience in aviation running his own UK Air Operating Certificate and training organization, Synergy Aviation, while also flying as a Captain. Glen has stayed with the business following the acquisition and will fly as a First Officer and support the management team.

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Peter is a highly experienced and qualified Aviation Safety and Compliance professional and holds a Master’s Degree in ‘Aviation Safety Management’. His early career was spent as a Licensed Engineer with various airlines in the UK, Europe and the Far…

Peter Gidlow

Head of Safety & Compliance

Peter is a highly experienced and qualified Aviation Safety and Compliance professional and holds a Master’s Degree in ‘Aviation Safety Management’.

His early career was spent as a Licensed Engineer with various airlines in the UK, Europe and the Far East.  He has subsequently held multiple Safety and Compliance nominated positions within all aspects of the industry.  Before joining Ascend Airways he held the post of ‘Head of Safety, Airworthiness and Regulatory Compliance’ with the Guernsey Office of the Director of Civil Aviation.

When not at work he and his wife, Liz, spend time travelling around in their classic Cadillac visiting family and friends.

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Ross has more than 20 years’ experience in airline operations. Ross joined Ascend Airways after setting up Flybe’s operations control team from scratch in 2021. Ross previously acted as Nominated Person Ground Operations at UK charter operator RVL Aviation and…

Ross Titchiner

Head of Operations

Ross has more than 20 years’ experience in airline operations. Ross joined Ascend Airways after setting up Flybe’s operations control team from scratch in 2021. Ross previously acted as Nominated Person Ground Operations at UK charter operator RVL Aviation and prior to that worked for Titan Airways and TUI for 8 and 12 years respectively, in supervisory and duty manager roles.

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Tony is an experienced aviation executive having joined Ascend from AirTanker, a consortium of leading aerospace and defence specialists, providing services to governments and airlines, where he was Director of Civil Business and part of the Executive Committee. Prior to…

Tony Carder

Commercial Director

Tony is an experienced aviation executive having joined Ascend from AirTanker, a consortium of leading aerospace and defence specialists, providing services to governments and airlines, where he was Director of Civil Business and part of the Executive Committee. Prior to AirTanker, Tony spent 14 years with Atlas Air, a leading ACMI airline, as VP of Sales & Marketing.

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Spencer is an experienced post holder and trainer joining from L3Harris. Spencer has 20 years of experience operating the B737; he is a Boeing 737 qualified Type Rated Instructor and Examiner with base training approval. Spencer has previously held the…

Spencer Ainsworth

Head of Crew Training

Spencer is an experienced post holder and trainer joining from L3Harris. Spencer has 20 years of experience operating the B737; he is a Boeing 737 qualified Type Rated Instructor and Examiner with base training approval. Spencer has previously held the Head of Training / Nominated Person Crew Training position at Texel Air and Maleth-Aero and was previously a TRI/TRE at Jet2.com.

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Neeru worked at British Airways for more than 30 years in roles which included leading cabin training, cabin service and performance management. Prior to joining Ascend Neeru led cabin safety and management for start-up carrier Hans Airways. [email protected]

Neeru Prabhakar

Head of Cabin Crew

Neeru worked at British Airways for more than 30 years in roles which included leading cabin training, cabin service and performance management. Prior to joining Ascend Neeru led cabin safety and management for start-up carrier Hans Airways.

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Yasmine has worked in the aviation industry for 25 years and spent the past 10 years as Head of Training. -Yasmine has commercial airline and private jet experience having worked for airlines and managing service on private jets for ultra-high…

Yasmine Milner

Head of Cabin Training

Yasmine has worked in the aviation industry for 25 years and spent the past 10 years as Head of Training. -Yasmine has commercial airline and private jet experience having worked for airlines and managing service on private jets for ultra-high net-worth individuals.

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Part of

Avia Solutions Group is the world’s largest ACMI provider, with a fleet of 213 aircraft.

The group also provides a range of aviation services including, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, as well as a variety of associated services. Supported by 12,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates worldwide.

12,000+
staff across 68 countries
100+
offices & production sites worldwide
17
Business lines, ACMI, MRO, and GH